Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Despite the recent travel alert issued by the United States Department of State cautioning American citizens about spring trips to Mexico, including areas in Jalisco, local tourism in Puerto Vallarta appears unaffected. Martín Rodríguez Félix, president of the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, reports that the advisory has not deterred the influx of young travelers to the popular vacation destination. Approximately 8,000 university students are expected to arrive for their spring break festivities.
The travel advisory, disseminated by the United States Embassy and Consulates in Mexico, advises travelers to “travel intelligently” and stay informed due to the large number of U.S. citizens visiting Mexico during the spring break period each year. Although the advisory recommends reconsidering travel to Jalisco state due to potential risks of crime and kidnappings, it does not specifically mention Puerto Vallarta.
Rodríguez Félix mentioned that the alert was released after many spring breakers had already purchased their travel packages and begun arriving at their destination. As a result, the notice has had little impact on their plans. “They are already coming to Puerto Vallarta,” he said. “If the alert had been issued earlier, in January or February, it might have had an effect. However, the spring breakers have been arriving for the past three weeks, and we’ve seen an increase in visitors.”
While acknowledging that the travel alert could tarnish the destination’s image and make visitors more cautious, resulting in them spending less time outside their hotels, Rodríguez Félix emphasizes that this has not stopped tourists from visiting the city. He noted a decline in the number of spring breakers compared to previous years, attributing this to the pandemic and competition from other destinations offering a wider range of services and better promotion of this tourist segment.
Despite these challenges, Puerto Vallarta is gearing up to welcome a significant number of American college students next week, following the arrival of Canadian visitors in late February and early March. The local tourism industry remains optimistic about the ongoing spring break season and continues to welcome visitors to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Despite the recent travel alert issued by the United States Department of State cautioning American citizens about spring trips to Mexico, including areas in Jalisco, local tourism in Puerto Vallarta appears unaffected. Martín Rodríguez Félix, president of the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, reports that the advisory has not deterred the influx of young travelers to the popular vacation destination. Approximately 8,000 university students are expected to arrive for their spring break festivities.
